The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-05-14
no 222-
CONTINUED FROM FIRST pAeE.l

He Quilted the ball and called cab %
drive him home. ~
There was the legend still painted IN qXv -
o~;no yellow letters upon the curtain q tbe
NIGHT. Alan went to bed like o2A in a
nightmare; for the thing had n9sensible
;mnort for him; he could not pick the Ghost
Of meaning out of those dubb us words
When he awoke they weH still before
him: Il
Professor John dc GiJJon,
No. 992 IN II. N, Prison at -.
WrOngthtJ Convicted:
And now appe2ed for the first time the
four new words4n the form of postscript
HelHust Be Released!
sThe deIl he must p said Alan, and fell
to thinkig. "Who is Professor John Nc
6ibbopand why did they convict him
wronsully, and what in the name of Mes
ine1las it to do with me 2"
l'Mesmerl'
No sooner had he said this word than his
1nind began to be family illumined. He
thought again, and having thought awhile
he remembered somewhat.
John McGibbon, erstwhile professor, was
the name of the famous mesmerist who,
during little summer of renown, had
startled the town by his performances. He
had once, at an evening party in Belgrayia,
mesmerized Alan himself with unequivocal
success. He recalled the professors words
on that occasion. II believe that l could
do anything pleased with you" the pro-
fessor had said; and certainly he had done
strange things with him that evening. He
had on the same occasion mesmerized the
Home Secretary, and made him declare
that his watch was baked potato, much
to the annoyance Of the Prime Minister,
who was of the company.
Still cogitating, Alan next bethought
him how the meteoric career of the profess
sor had been miserably cut short and
blighted by certain sensational trial at
Old Bailey, in which the professor himself
had occupied position at the dock. The
jury returned verdict Of guilty without
quitting the box, and the judge passed a
heavy sentence, as the public said that
mesmerism should be put down.
FitzGibbon was an assiduous youth when
his interest was aroused, and he now set tc
work to find and read the reports of the
trial, together with the comments of the
newspapers upon it. When he had finished
his study of the case he could not but agree
with the writer of leading article in /
morning journal who expressed his opinion
that the verdict against McGibbon had beer
obtained less upon the evidence offered t.
the Court than upon the speech of the
prosecuting counsel, who made himsel
painfully jocular at the expense of the oc
cult arts and their opponents
What was to be done now?
Waiting upon the Home Secretary the
same morning in the ordinary course of hi
duties, he found that trusted and well-be
loved servant of the Queen in distraugh
and nervous condition. The Home Secre
tary complained that he had been plagued
during two nights by dreams about per.
son called John McGibbon, who said tina
he had been wrongfully imprisoned anC
must be released at once.
The private secretary turned pale anC
replied ''This is very remarkable, sir, 70
/ also have been troubled with visions abou
the same man"
''Then," said the Home Secretary, il
evident uneasiness, ethis must be the per
son calling himself professor who played
such impertinent tricks with me at Lad,
F-'s one night, making me, as l wa
afterward told, declare to a very distinguish
ed company that my watch was baket
potato"
at must be he, sir, replied FitzGibbon
"and he did very extraordinary things with
me the same evening"
'sWhat is he in prison for y inquired
the Home Secretary.
Alan told the story to his chief as he hac
read it that morning, and emphasized the
weak points he had discovered in, the cast
for the prosecution.
II have it on my mind" said the Home
Secretary, ''that unless this person is re
leased from prison he will do something
singularly unpleasant"
@There is no doubt that he is a man o
preternatural abilities, replied Alan.
ale is capable of bringing about chang;
of Government" said the Home Secretary
nervously drawing ghost on his blottin!
pad.
'Hc might, indeed, effect our removal
sir, said the young man.
stHe might bring on revolution of som
Sort" said the Home Secretary.
II believe he could do anything h
pleased" said FitzGibbon.
The Home Secretary without furthe
words took sheet of paper and began t,
write letter in tremulous, hasty way.
"What are you doing, sir? ?" FitzGibbol
ventured to inquire.
81 cannot help it, FitzGibbon," answers
his chief very neryously, and writing as har
as he could. Something controls and i'm
pels me- l am not master of myself. Thi
the Governor perceived from the statement
told to him that the credit, if not the sal
walton, of the jail was at stake; SO he swor
!, once or twice to clear his mind, and hay
ing, finished swearing he ordered the pris
oner tC he brought to him.
In the same breath he countermandet
the order, swore again to show that h
knew what he was about, and said he woul,
see the prisoner in his cell. He was con
Quoted thither at once, and went in alone.
No. 222, in accordance with his regula
habit, was spending the half hour befor
bedtime in little quiet meditation, AM
had just been specializing as to the simples
and least troublesome method by which b
might effect his escape, for the monoton,
of an improbable confinement began to b.
irksome to him.
He read the purport of the Governor
visit in his face and readily OWNED tn
causes to which it was owing; the warderl
had sent the Governor to interrogate ant
intimidate him.
What then aPoohl' said the prisone
to himself. "Pooh !"
"You are accused of creating disturbance
in the prison, said the Governor, and wen
on to lay his charge.
While he spoke the prisoners eye wa
engaged in quiet but rigorous scrutiD.
of the Governors features, and such point